Sample interview questions: Can you provide an example of a time when you had to handle a dispute or legal issue related to the ownership or use of special collections materials?
Sample answer:
During my tenure as Special Collections Librarian at the University of California, Berkeley, I encountered a complex dispute involving the ownership and use of a rare manuscript.
The manuscript in question was a 16th-century illuminated manuscript that had been donated to the library in the early 20th century. Over the years, scholars had made extensive use of the manuscript for research, and it had become a cornerstone of the library’s medieval studies collection.
However, in recent years, a descendant of the manuscript’s original owner had come forward claiming ownership of the manuscript. The descendant argued that the original donation had been made under duress and that the manuscript had been wrongfully acquired by the library.
As Special Collections Librarian, I was responsible for handling the dispute. I collaborated with the library’s legal counsel to gather evidence, including hist… Read full answer
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